Lighting fixture



A. P. EBRITE LIGHTING FIXTURE -Nov. 12, 1935v` original Filed July lo, 1955 2 sheets-sheet' 1 INVENTQR. LP Z'BRI TE ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1935 Original Filed July l0, 1935 Illlllllllllll A. P. EBRITE 2,021,002

LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 sheets-sheet 2 BY ma ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 12, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE Application July 10, 1933, Serial No. 679,645 Renewed June 8, 1935 8 Claims. (CI. 24U-78) My invention relates to illumination, and lncludes among its objects and advantages an extension of the eilectiveness of indirect illumination to render that type ofI illumination more generally acceptable for the type of service best characterized as residential.

From the standpoint of illumination only, indirect illumination, as by flooding a light colored ceiling, wall, iioor, or table with light, is much superior to direct illumination, but the equipment vheretofore used for such lighting has been oi a mechanical construction aording so little opportunity for esthetic and artistic eiects that indirect lighting has made relatively little progress for residential use.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an overhead lighting xture according to the invention, the right haii' of the ilgure being in elevation, and the left halt in radial section;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view on a reduced scale, of the unit of Figure l;

, Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 oi Figure 1:

Figure 4 is an enlarged section online 4-4 of Figure 1:

Figure is a side view of a unit suitable for a side lamp for a dressing table; and

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Figure 5.

In the embodiment oi' the invention selected for illustration in Figures 1 to 4, the bulk of the light from the source I0 impinges on the inner reflecting surface I2 of the sheet metal reilector i4, and is thus thrown upward to ood the ceiling with light. The reflector i4 includes a tlat central bottom portion I6. Four radial slots are formed in the reilector beginning at I8 near the center of the ilat bottom portion I8, and extending out and up the curvedportion to terminate near the outer edge at 20. 'Ihe portion of each slot extending up the curved portion is tapered.

Associated with each slot is a glass overlay 22 extending laterally as at 24 a short distance on each side oi' the slot. 'I'he glass in the overlay is translucent and may transmit a minor or a major fraction of the incident light. When the fraction transmitted is high, the outer surface of each overlay is of an irregular shape such as the double concave contour indicated at 28. By'this ir-y regular outer surface, the small fraction of the light emanating from the source i0 that enters the overlay is diilused on leaving so that no appreciable illumination is delivered to the room in this way, and the eyes of an observer looking directly at the overlay are not subjected to glare,

.so that the but perceive the overlayvas an ornamental pattern on the unit, which pattern is illuminated but not a source oi' appreciable illumination or glare. 1

Each overlay includes an insert portion 28 in I the form of a central rib shaped to t the slot. The extended side portions 24 are of substantially constant width so that most of the overlay and' vthe insert are tapered in general parallelism with the tapered walls of the slot, the taper being l0 clearly indicated at 30 in Figure 2.

Below the bottom i8 and below the horizontally and inwardly projecting inner end 32 of the overlays. is positioned a retainer 34, also of glass. The central portion of the retainer 34 lies against the 1I bottom I 8, as indicated at 36 in Figure l, and outside this central portion there is a peripheral groove 38 surrounded by an annular opstanding rib 40. The inner end of each overlay is fashioned to -t the rib 48 and groove 38, terminating in a 20 lug 42 resting in the groove.

In assembled position the outer end of each overlay is supported by an extension oi' the insert 28 clearly shown at 44 in Figure 1, which rests above the inner surface of the reflector.l 25

The retainer 34 and all the inserts are fastened together into a unitary whole by a stud 46 having a bottom head 48, and a retaining nut 50 overlying the bottom I6.

The source i0 is mounted in the usual socket 52, 30 and the upper portion of the source and the socket 52 are enclosed in the usual husk 54. The husk 54 supports the reilector unit assembly by three equally spaced tension links 56.

The entire lighting unit is supported from the 35 usual plate 58 and central pipe 60. The sleeve 62 presents at 84 the smallest diameter of the inverted pedestal, and is threaded at 68 to receive a slip ring 68, which retains the canopy 10 in asembled position. The canopy 10 may have 40 additional support in the form of machine screws 12 at its outer edge. The lower end 'I4 of the sleeve 82 is of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the screw threads on the slip ring 68,

slip ring can be unscrewed down- 45 wardly and pass downward over the portion i4 to rest on the upper end portion 'i6 of the husk, which end portion has the outer surface shape of part of a torus of approximately the same configuration and outer diameter as the slip ring 68 50 itself. In this way additional clearance is permitted for moving the canopy i0 downward to permit a workman to solder together the wire ends inside the canopy 10, and at the same time the general symmetry o1' the outer contour of 55 illustration in Figures 5 and 6 employs the same the pedestal is effectively maintained. The husk itself is supported by clamping the inner edge of the torus 16 between the upper end of the socket 52 and the opposing shoulder on the sleeve 62.

The same construction illustrated in Figure 1 is entirely suitable for use the other side up as a table lamp, except that the tension link 56 will be replaced'by rigid wires or rods. Such construction being notoriously old and common in the art, it is deemed unnecessary to encumber the drawings with this detail.

The embodiment of the invention selected for retainer 34 and stud 46 as the embodiment of Figure 1. The reflector 80 is a cylinder with part of one side cut away at 82. The remainder oi l the reflector carries two overlays 84, which may be identical in cross section with the overlay 22, and which have similar insert portions 86.

'Ihe lower and inner ends 88 of the overlays are turned inwardly at right angles to conform to the shape of the reiiector used, and carry lugs 90 identical with lugs 42 to cooperate with the groove 38 and annular rib 40.

In the positions where symmetry would call for additional overlays, but for the lateral cutting away of the reflector itself, symmetry in the inside illumination of the retainer`34 is maintained by openings 92 in the bottom 94.

The entire unit is supported by the stud 96 clamped directly to the reflector by a clamping nut 98 and provided with a suitable swivel connection at tightened into frictional engagement by the knurled annulus l|02. 'Ihis permits the user to adjust the position of theY entire unit;-

in case of a side lamp for a dressing table, by rotation about a vertical axis passing through the swivel connection to change the distribution of light inwardly or outwardly as desired.

It will be observed that without appreciable reduction in the engineering efficiency of the indirect illumination obtained, the type of construction above outlined aords opportunity for a Wide variety of artistic effects that permit indirect lighting fixtures to harmonize fully with various geometrical and color systems of interior decoration. More particularly, it permits a definition of an ornamental light pattern made up of straight or curved lines or bands dened substantially by their own luminosity only. To render such a tracery pattern a contribution to the beauty of the whole rather than a subordinate source of illumination, the degree of illumination is kept low enough so that the eye is encouraged to dwell directly on the light pattern, and may do so without eye strain.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying knowledge current at the time of application, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a light source; a reiector shapedto reflect the light from the said source in a iiood in a predetermined direction; said reector having apertures, and inserts in said apertures; said inserts being of translucent material and having irregular outer surfaces, whereby the light passing through said outer surfaces is diffused sufficiently to render its illuminating action negligible; said inserts including portions overlying the unilluminated face of the reflector and forming an illuminated but not illuminating ornamental pattern on the other- Wise dark side of the reflector; each insert extending to a point near the axis of the reector; a translucent retaining member symmetrical about the reflector axis; said retaining member and the inner ends of said'inserts having interengagingv irregularities of contour whereby said inserts are 5 supported by said retaining member and restrained against radial movement; the outer ends of said inserts having extensions lying inside the reflector to support said outer ends of said inserts; said extensions extending longitudinally l but not laterally, whereby said inserts and retaining member may be assembled with said reflector by moving the inserts into position from outside and then positioning the retaining member under their inner ends. 2. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a light source; a reflector shaped to reect the light from the said source in a flood in a predetermined direction; said reector having apertures, and inserts in said apertures; said inserts being of translucent material and having irregular outer surfaces, whereby the light passing throughv said outer surfaces is diffused suiliciently to render its illuminating action negligible; said inserts including portions overlying the unilluminated face of the reflector and forming an illuminated but not illuminating ornamental pattern on the otherwise dark side of the reflector; each insert extending to a point near the axis of the reflector; a translucent retaining member symmetrical about the reilector axis; said retaining member and the inner ends of said inserts having interengaging irregularities of contour whereby said inserts are supported by said retaining member and restrained against radial movement.

3. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a' light source; a reiiector shaped to reflect the light from the said source in a flood in va predetermined direction; said reiiector having apertures, and inserts in said apertures; said inserts being 40 of translucent material and having irregular outer surfaces, whereby the light passing through said outer surfaces is diffused sufficiently to render its illuminating action negligible; said inserts including portions overlying the unilluminated face of the reector and forming an illuminated but not illuminating ornamental pattern on the otherwise dark side of the reector; each insert extending to a point near the axis of the reflector; a retaining member symmetrical about the reector axis and substantially at the place of nearest approach of all said inserts; said retaining member and the inner ends of said inserts having interengaging irregularities of contour whereby said inserts are supported by said retaining member and restrained against radial movement.

4. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a light source; a reflector shaped to reflect the light from said source from the inner surface of said reector in a nood in a predetermined direction; said reflector having apertures dening an ornamental pattern occupying only a minor fraction of the area of said reector; elements of light transmitting material registering with said apertures, said elements having irregular outer surfaces such that the light passing through A,them is diffused suiiiciently to render its illumreflector surface and thus blur the outline of the pattern; and quickly detachable unitary retaining means for fastening all said elements positively in assembled relationship.

5. A reflector for indirect illumination com- Drising a main body shaped to reflect the light from a suitably positioned source in a liood in a predetermined direction; said body having apertures occupying only a' mino-r fraction of the area of said body and defining an ornamental tracery pattern; elements of translucent material removably covering said apertures and extending at least partly outside the same, said elements dissipating and diffusing the light passing through them sumciently to render its illuminating action negligible, Whereby said elements when illuminated constitute an ornamental light pattern of su'ch low intensity as to be noticeable but not brilliant, and comfortable for direct contemplation with the naked eye, and retaining means for fastening said elements to the reflector but permitting removal and replacement thereof.

6. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a light source; a reflector shaped to reflect the light from said source from the inner surface of said reflector in a flood in a predetermined direction; said reflector having apertures receiving light from said source; said apertures occupying only a minor fraction of the area of said reflec- 4 tor; removable diffusing means of translucent material intercepting all the light entering said apertures, whereby direct illumination through said apertures is completely cut olf; said difusing means being arranged in a tracery pattern lying along the outer reflector surface and being rendered luminous by the intercepted light but with such low intensity of illumination as to be noticeable but not brilliant, and comfortable for direct contemplati-on with the naked eye, under the conditions of illumination produced by the main ood of reflected light, and retaining means for fastening said material to the reflector, but permitting removal and replacement thereof.

7. Indirect illumination equipment comprising a light source; a reflector shaped to reflect the light from said source from the inner surface of said reector in a liood in a predetermined direci with such low intensity of illumination as to be noticeable but not brilliant, and comfortable for direct'contemplation 'with the naked eye, under the conditions of illumination produced by the main flood of reflected light; said diffusing means 15 including portions protruding through said apertures, and,retaining means for fastening said material to the reflector, but permitting removal and replacement thereof.

8. Indirect illumination equipment comprising 20 a light source; a reflector shaped to reflect the light from said source from the inner. surface cf Said reflector in a flood in a predetermined direction; said reflector having apertures receiving light from said source; said apertures occupying 25 only a minor fraction of the area of said reflector; removable diffusing' means of translucent material intercepting all the light entering said apertures, whereby direct illumination through said apertures is completely cut off; said diifus- 30 ing means being arranged in a tracery pattern lying along the outer reflector surface and being rendered luminous by the intercepted light but with such low intensity of illumination as to be noticeable but not brilliant, and comfortable for 35 direct contemplation With the naked eye, under the conditions of illumination produced by the `main flood of reflected light; said diffusing means including portions protruding through the apertures of the reflector, and portions lying 40 outside the outer surface of the reflector to shed a halo on the adjacent reflector surface, and retaining means for fastening said material to the reflector, but permitting removal and replacement thereof. Y 45 ARTHUR P. EBRITE. 

